https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How IAS Officer K M Sarayu Turned a Quiet Tamil Nadu Village into a Floriculture Powerhouse

With roses, orchids, and tech-driven farms, Thally is rewriting the story of rural development under the sharp leadership of District Magistrate K M Sarayu
Indian Masterminds Stories

Thally, a quiet village nestled near Hosur in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, looks like the kind of place where time moves slowly. But drive a little further, and you’ll come across a very different scene – acres of precision-farmed flowers, climate-controlled greenhouses, and farmers tapping into global markets. At the center of it all is a new kind of rural development strategy, one that blends high-tech agriculture with hands-on governance.

At the heart of this floral transformation is IAS officer K M Sarayu, the District Magistrate of Krishnagiri, whose approach has turned a traditional agrarian belt into one of India’s rising hubs for high-value floriculture.

IAS Officer K M Sarayu

HIGH-TECH FARMING MEETS VILLAGE SOIL

The Centre for Cut Flowers, located just outside Thally, doesn’t look like your usual farm. Inside, it’s all sensors, drip lines, and neatly ordered rows of roses, gerberas, and orchids. Real-time data controls water and nutrient delivery. Greenhouses adjust humidity and temperature automatically. Post-harvest rooms are chilled to preserve freshness. It’s farming with the precision of a lab.

Farmers are learning fast. “Earlier, we only knew open farming. Now we talk about micronutrients and humidity levels,” says a local grower who now ships gerberas to Bengaluru and Delhi. Training sessions held at the centre walk cultivators through everything from greenhouse setup to market strategy. “We weren’t sure at first,” he adds, “but once we saw the rose yield, we were convinced.”

Much of the innovation stems from a collaboration with Israel, particularly around drip irrigation. The difference it’s made is striking. Roses that once wilted in days now last weeks. Each acre yields up to five lakh stems annually, and in peak seasons like Valentine’s Day, farmers can earn up to ₹400 per bunch of 20 roses.

THE MARKET GETS SMARTER TOO

Just a few kilometers away, another project is quietly changing how flowers are sold. The International Flower Auction Centre (IFAC) was built to help farmers skip the middlemen and sell directly to buyers via an online auction. It’s fast-paced – a Dutch clock system flashes images of flowers, and buyers place rapid bids. Everything is tracked and priced digitally.

Despite initial hesitation, more and more farmers are signing on. “They see the transparency,” says an official at the centre. “They know the price upfront, and there’s no haggling.”

Sarayu’s team knew trust would be key. So they launched transport services that collect flowers straight from farmers’ doorsteps. They organized buyer-seller meets and even showed florists how grading and packing could boost shelf life. Gradually, the market began to shift.

₹200 CRORE AND COUNTING

The numbers tell a big story. The export value from the district’s floriculture has touched ₹200 crore. The IFAC alone has generated ₹25 lakh in revenue. Around 1,946 acres in the region are under flower cultivation, with more being added every season. This year, the Centre for Cut Flowers supplied 15 lakh plants for the Chennai flower show – nearly double last year’s count.

What’s more, Hosur’s flowers are now reaching across India and even overseas, thanks to cold chain systems and improved logistics. Farmers who once relied on the Bengaluru markets now have better choices, and often better prices.

SARAYU’S STYLE: LEAD FROM THE FIELD

It’s not just the ideas that have worked — it’s how they were put into action. K M Sarayu is known for being on the ground, whether it’s convincing skeptical farmers to try greenhouse setups or coordinating with logistics teams to ensure timely pick-ups.

“We didn’t have the infrastructure in place at first,” Sarayu shared with the media, “but we started by listening. We spoke to farmers, asked them what they needed. Then we worked backwards from there.”

But Sarayu is quick to deflect the credit. “You have to be a good team leader. That means listening, not just giving instructions,” she says. “Sometimes, the best ideas come from the people you’re working with.”

MORE THAN JUST FLOWERS

There’s something quietly radical about the transformation in Thally. It’s not just about blooms or export revenue — it’s about what happens when rural economies are given the tools to compete globally, and when governance gets personal.

Ask Sarayu what drives her, and her answer is simple: “We all came into this service to help people. That’s the job.”

The flowers, as it turns out, are just the beginning.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
DGR Job Fair
DGR Job Fair 2025 Held in Delhi to Empower Ex-Servicemen with Career Opportunities in Emerging Tech - Details Inside
omc
Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Begins Dispatch from Dubna Mines, Strengthening Supply Chain and Industrial Growth
NFDC
NFDC Launches Free Residential 3D Animation & VFX Training for North East Youth - Here's All You Need To Know
CM Yogi
CM Yogi Adityanath Reviews Rs. 42,891 Crore Development Proposals for Lucknow Division, Emphasizes Timely, Inclusive Execution
Mahanadi River
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Assures Odisha of Consideration on an Amicable Solution to Mahanadi Water Dispute
MP News
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Pays Tribute to Pt. Ravishankar Shukla on His Birth Anniversary
ONGC_resized
ONGC Sets Record Date for Rs1.25 Final Dividend for FY25; Strengthens Shareholder Returns- Check Details
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
PM Modi Releases 20th PM-KISAN Instalment; CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Thanks Centre for Supporting Over 8 Lakh Farmers in Uttarakhand
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
DGR Job Fair
DGR Job Fair 2025 Held in Delhi to Empower Ex-Servicemen with Career Opportunities in Emerging Tech - Details Inside
omc
Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Begins Dispatch from Dubna Mines, Strengthening Supply Chain and Industrial Growth
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT